77 



rior. He stated that the sandstone of that region agrees in 

 its characters with those of the oldest of the sandstone for- 

 mations. He concluded with an account of the immense 

 quantities of Specular Iron ore found in the region south 

 of L'Anse, Lake Superior, on or near the Machigamig 

 river. 



Dr. Storer presented a specimen of Cottus, taken in 

 eighteen fathoms of water on Nantucket Shoals. It was 

 only one inch in length, and proved to be the C variabilis 

 of Ayres, which is improperly described by DeKay as the 

 C. oeneus of Mitchill. The true C. ceneus is another species. 

 The C. variabilis is usually found in shoal water along the 

 shores ; and it is a curious fact that the specimen presented 

 should have been taken in such deep water. Three were 

 caught by Mr. Desor, of which the specimen presented was 

 one, in water of twelve, fifteen and eighteen fathoms depth. 



Dr. Storer also presented, in the name of Dr. Forsyth of 

 Chelsea, Mass., a specimen of Chimizra Colliei, from Califor- 

 nia, described and figured in the Zoolooy of Beechey's 

 Voyage. This genus of fishes is remarkable for having on 

 the top of the head a large projecting mass, covered with 

 spines, which shuts down over it like a hood, and serves as 

 a protection. 



Dr. Bacon presented, in Mr. Alger's and his own name, a 

 number of mineralogical specimens, most of which had been 

 recently collected during a mineralogical excursion to the 

 western part of New Jersey. 



Dr. David S. C. H. Smith of Providence R. I., was 

 elected a Corresponding Member. 



